Bortuzzo activated from injured reserve

DENVER - Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo will return to the lineup Friday for the first time in more than a month.

Bortuzzo, who last played on Oct. 20 in Toronto, has been on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
"He brings a lot of physicality, a lot of nastiness to his game," Blues forward Alexander Steen said of getting Bortuzzo back. "He's really tough to play against around the net and he's got a great stick, he always uses it in the right way, takes away passing lanes and kind of puts the pressure on you from a distance."

"He'll bring a lot, not just defensively, but as a whole," added defenseman Colton Parayko. "He's a huge impact player that's going to bring a heck of a lot to the team. Defensively, he'll make it happen. He's tough to play against. It's not easy for other teams to come up against him, and when you have that, it's a huge boost to the team."
Bortuzzo has played in just five games this season, posting one goal and two penalty minutes.
"He's been skating for awhile and he feels good enough to play tonight," said Blues Head Coach Craig Berube. "We're looking forward to having that energy and grit that he brings to our team. I think it will be a big boost for us."